After stepping away from professional football six months ago, Marc-Antoine Dequoy has returned to the field to compete in the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world flag football championship in Duesseldorf, Germany. Dequoy, a former safety for the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL, decided to retire in February due to physical limitations that would have made it challenging to fulfill the demands of a full CFL season. However, the opportunity to play flag football reignited his competitive spirit.
Despite initially hesitating to join the Canadian men’s flag football team, Dequoy eventually embraced the new challenge. He had taken a break from football to co-host a television show but found himself missing the competitive aspect of the sport. This led him to reach out to Coach LaPolice and express his willingness to return to the field.
Transitioning from traditional football to flag football presented its own set of challenges for Dequoy. The game is played on a smaller field with different rules, requiring players to adapt their strategies. Dequoy admitted that breaking old habits, such as avoiding physical contact and learning to grab opponents’ flags, was a learning curve for him.
Canada faced a slight setback in the tournament when Nigeria withdrew from the competition due to visa issues, resulting in a revised schedule for the remaining teams. Despite the unexpected change, Canada remains focused on securing a top-two finish in the championship to qualify for the Olympics. Dequoy emphasized the significance of this opportunity, highlighting the importance of aiming for Olympic qualification in a sport that he never imagined could reach such heights.
The competition in Germany serves as a crucial step towards Olympic qualification, with the top finishers earning a chance to compete in the upcoming games. Dequoy expressed his determination to strive for success in the tournament, recognizing the significance of potentially representing Canada on the world stage.
